our take on pop culture, live events, and whatever else we can think of…

Your JavaScript is turned off!

Some portions of the TN Team Blog rely on JavaScript in order to work properly. To get the full blog experience (including posting comments), please enable JavaScript on your browser. If you need help, please click here for instructions.

The NFL is back! After a prolonged lockout, everyone seems to be even more hyped to this season than for seasons past and that includes me.

Every week for the entire 2011 NFL season, I will be ranking every game on that week's schedule based on their sales on the TicketNetwork Exchange. Unlike other "Power Rankings" that you see across the internet that rank the teams based on their performance, these rankings will be based on ticket sales and the average price fans have paid to see the game.* That means the demand among FANS will be the deciding factor, not "experts" telling you which is the best.

Check back every Thursday for the latest TN Team Blog "NFL Game Power Rankings". Here is this week's rankings:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Average Ticket Price: $270.54

Every season, these two AFC North rivals battle twice and every game seems to be a great one. This fact is not lost on fans in Baltimore, who have paid nearly 20% more than #2 game on our list. Those Ravens fans also hope for a better outcome than the teams last game in which the Steelers beat the Ravens 31-24 in last season's AFC Divisional Playoffs.

2. New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers

Average Ticket Price: $226.19

The Saints-Packers match-up is the opening game of the 2011 season, and it pits last year's Super Bowl champion vs. the previous season's champs. Packers fans will also get the chance to watch their team raise their Super Bowl banner to the rafters.

3. Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears

Average Ticket Price: $186.17

The Bears have some of the most rabid fans in the NFL, and after last season's disappointing playoff loss, they are ready to start fresh in 2011. The Falcons will be looking to build on last year's 13-3 record behind QB Matt Ryan.

4. Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets

Average Ticket Price: $176.84

America's Team vs. America's loudest team (thanks to Rex Ryan) in the Big Apple is definitely a recipe for a highly anticipated game. Add in the pre-game ceremonies to remember the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, and it should be an emotional night for both teams and their fans.

5. Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

Average Ticket Price: $155.07

Through thick and thin, you can say one thing about fans in Denver: they are loyal to their Broncos. This is the first game you wouldn't expect to see in the Top 5, but maybe all the tickets are being sold to females who want to catch a glimpse of Tim Tebow, but probably not Kyle Orton.

6. Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers

Average Ticket Price: $118.12

The San Diego Chargers are the hot pick around the league to win the Super Bowl this season and the Charger fans are hoping those people are right after under-achieving in the past few years.

8. New York Giants at Washington Redskins

Average Ticket Price: $108.71

The NFC East is maybe the most competitive division in the NFL, and the winner of this game will have a leg up in the division. After dumping malcontents Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb in the offseason, Redskins fans are ready for a better 2011.

9. Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Average Ticket Price: $107.68

This game has lost some of its luster now that Peyton Manning is out, except for fantasy football owners who selected Texan's RB Arian Foster first in their draft (most notably, me). The Texans are hoping to make the postseason for the first time in franchise history, and it is important they get off to a good start.

10. Philadelphia Eagles at St. Louis Rams

Average Ticket Price: $97.43

Apparently Rams fans aren't that excited to see Michael Vick and the self-proclaimed "Dream Team" Eagles. They should, however, be excited to see their hometown team because the Rams could be significantly better if QB Sam Bradford is as improved as all the experts think he will be.

11. Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Average Ticket Price: $88.01

You can thank the Browns fans for this game being this high on the list, because on the field, this may be the worst match-up of the week.

12. Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Average Ticket Price: $75.40

The Buccaneers were last season's surprise team, going from 3-13 in 2009 to 10-6 in 2010. The Lions are looking to be that team in 2011 behind defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.

13. Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals

Average Ticket Price: $58.15

This is the point where the average price falls off the board. Neither team is expected to do much this season, unless of course new Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb becomes the star the team hopes he will be.

14. Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

Average Ticket Price: $52.41

Not surprisingly, the quarterback match-up of Tavaris Jackson and Alex Smith didn't stoke up interest of this game for Niners fans.

15. Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

Average Ticket Price: $50.15

I would expect a Chiefs home game to be higher, but maybe they are saving their money for a more exciting game than against the lowly Bills.

Pages

Disclaimer

The TN Team Blog and other social media platforms where TicketNetwork.com’s content team posts content including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, are written by the TicketNetwork.com content team. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of TicketNetwork Inc. Any trademarks remain the property of their respective owners; the appearance of trademarked terms does not indicate any association with TicketNetwork.com or TicketNetwork, Inc.

The views, opinions and positions expressed within guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of TicketNetwork or its employees. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within guest post articles are not guaranteed. TicketNetwork accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations made in the guest blogger postings. The copyright of the guest blogger’s content belongs to the author and any rights or liability with regards to alleged infringement of the author’s work is between the alleged infringer and the author and not TicketNetwork. Please note that guest bloggers are not paid by TicketNetwork for blogging content.